16. In the service of; connected with; of the number of; as, he is on a newspaper; on a committee.
Note: On and upon are in general interchangeable. In some
applications upon is more euphonious, and is therefore to be
preferred; but in most cases on is preferable. On a bowline. (Naut.)
Same as Closehauled.
— On a wind, or On the wind (Naut.), sailing closehauled.
— On a sudden. See under Sudden.
— On board, On draught, On fire, etc. See under Board, Draught,
Fire, etc.
— On it, On't, of it. [Obs. or Colloq.] Shak.
— On shore, on land; to the shore.
— On the road, On the way, On the wing, etc. See under Road, Way,
etc.
— On to, upon; on; to; — sometimes written as one word, onto, and
usually called a colloquialism; but it may be regarded in analogy
with into.
They have added the -en plural form on to an elder plural. Earle.
We see the strength of the new movement in the new class of
ecclesiastics whom it forced on to the stage. J. R. Green.
ON
On, adv. Etym: [See On, prep.]
1. Forward, in progression; onward; — usually with a verb of motion; as, move on; go on. "Time glides on." Macaulay. The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger. Shak.
2. Forward, in succession; as, from father to son, from the son to the grandson, and so on.
3. In continuance; without interruption or ceasing; as, sleep on, take your ease; say on; sing on.
4. Adhering; not off; as in the phrase, "He is neither on nor off," that is, he is not steady, he is irresolute.
5. Attached to the body, as clothing or ornament, or for use. "I have boots on." B. Gonson. He put on righteousness as a breastplate. Is. lix. 17.
6. In progress; proceeding; as, a game is on.
Note: On is sometimes used as an exclamation, or a command to move or proceed, some verb being understood; as, on, comrades; that is, go on, move on. On and on, continuously; for a long time together. "Toiling on and on and on." Longfellow.